PUBLICATION

Teleost HoxD and HoxA genes: comparison with tetrapods and functional evolution of the HOXD complex

Authors
van der, Hoeven, F., Sordino, P., Fraudeau, N., Izpisúa Belmonte, J.C., and Duboule, D.
ID
ZDB-PUB-970324-14
Date
1996
Source
Mechanisms of Development   54(1): 9-21 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Duboule, Denis, Izpisúa Belmonte, Juan Carlos, Sordino, Paolo
Keywords
none
MeSH Terms
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Chick Embryo
  • DNA, Complementary/genetics
  • Digestive System/embryology
  • Digestive System/metabolism
  • Embryonic and Fetal Development/genetics
  • Evolution, Molecular*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Genes, Homeobox*
  • Homeodomain Proteins/biosynthesis
  • Homeodomain Proteins/genetics*
  • In Situ Hybridization
  • Mice
  • Models, Biological
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Morphogenesis/genetics
  • RNA Probes
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Species Specificity
  • Trans-Activators/biosynthesis
  • Trans-Activators/genetics*
  • Transcription Factors/biosynthesis
  • Transcription Factors/genetics*
  • Urogenital System/embryology
  • Urogenital System/metabolism
  • Vertebrates/classification
  • Vertebrates/embryology
  • Vertebrates/genetics*
  • Zebrafish/embryology
  • Zebrafish/genetics*
  • Zebrafish Proteins*
PubMed
8808402 Full text @ Mech. Dev.
Abstract
In tetrapods, Hox genes are essential for the proper organization and development of axial structures. Experiments involving Hox gene inactivations have revealed their particularly important functions in the establishment of morphological transitions within metameric series such as the vertebral column. Teleost fish show a much simpler range of axial (trunk or appendicular) morphologies, which prompted us to investigate the nature of the Hox system in these lower vertebrates. Here, we show that fish have a family of Hox genes, very similar in both number and general organization, to that of tetrapods. Expression studies, carried out with HoxD and HoxA genes, showed that all vertebrates use the same general scheme, involving the colinear activation of gene expression in both space and time. Comparisons between tetrapods and fish allowed us to propose a model which accounts for the primary function of this gene family. In this model, a few ancestral Hox genes were involved in the determination of polarity in the digestive tract and were further recruited in more elaborate axial structures.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping